Film: Raincoat
Screenplay, direction: Rituparno Ghosh.
Cinematography: Aveek Mukherjee.
Music: Debojyoti Mishra
Banner: Shree Venkatesh Films.
Cast: Ajay Devgan, Aishwarya Rai, Annu Kapoor, Sammer Dharmadhikari and Mauli Ganguli.
I had been audience to various types of movies from the days I began understanding Hindi. Love stories, masala films filled with fight sequences, sentimental scenes, dazzling songs, mellifluous melodies and much much more. All these are entertaining stuff which you would remember probably for a week or so and forget it later. Seldom does a mild storyline come across with a impressive script that cuts across your heart in the mildest of fashions. Hum Dil De Chuke Hai Sanam was one that definitely left a lasting impression on me. The next one that has had a great impression is Raincoat.
The story
Manu (Ajay Devgan) is a resident of Bhagalpur who lives with his mother. He travels to Kolkatta in search of some money to start a new business as the jute mill in which he was working is in a lock-out. He stays in the house of his old classmate (Sameer Dharmadhikari) who is the owner of a TV channel and moves out to check his friends. His friend’s wife (Mauli Ganguly) is a very caring person and she gives Manu all necessary guidance when he lands at their place. The climate in Kolkatta is damp and she offers the raincoat of their servant. Manu goes in search of friends and manages to collect some money too.
Manu’s childhood girlfriend Neeru (Aishwarya Rai) has been married for 6 years and is living in Kolkatta. Manu decides to visit her and the lovers meet after 6 years. The house bears a abandoned look without air or electricity. The doors and windows are always closed. A lot of furniture lying around in a messy state. Neeru explains that as her husband frequently flies over the globe and that her in-laws want all the antique furniture to be intact which is the consequence of being married into a rich family. Manu and Neeru exchange pleasantries and begin to talk on their present state. Both claim to be in a respectable status to the other. In the meanwhile, Neeru moves out to get some lunch for Manu. Manu decides to open the windows and the house owner (Annu Kapoor) peeps in. Manu gets to know the reality, that Neeru is not living a posh life but a hide and seek with the world; that her husband is not a frequent flyer but a drunkard; that the furniture are not ancestral but those of a shop which uses the house as a godown. He gives off the money that he had collected from his friends to the house owner as rent and in return pleads him not to kick out Neeru. He also writes a letter to Neeru stating all that he had done.
Upon returning to his friend’s house, his friend’s wife asks for the raincoat and he returns it. She comes over again and hands a parcel to him, that contains a letter from Neeru and some jewels. All that Manu had written to Neeru was replicated in this letter from Neeru.
The screenplay, cinematography and music
Rituparno Gosh has penned the screenplay to perfection. He has managed to steal a few hours from the life of estranged lovers and has painted a classical art. I have not seen a movie for long time that contained so few characters, to be precise only 6 of them in the main act. The mild ray of sorrow that runs beneath the story does not fade off at any point, hats-off to Gosh for that. The sequence of events, the choice of cast, the artistical touch underlying in each frame is evident and catches the attention of the audience. They say that somewhere in some corner of our heart, our first love would always reside. It would provide bountiful happiness whenever it surfaces regardless of whether it succeeded or not. The entire movie depicts these feelings. Three scenes/dialogues really depict the whole movie. ’’If you ever cry in the bathroom, then keep the shower on.’’; ’’Wait till a certain time and if you dont get sleep, then take these sleeping pills.’’;’’What do you think... will she be thinking of you all the time; by this time her husband would be back from work and she would be happily devoting her time and energy for him.’’.
A special mention must be given to Aveek Mukherjee for his camera work. My god what a technician is he. I would like to rate him on par with some of the top class cinematographers in the world. No big sets, no artificial arrangements and yet the the where Aishwarya lives is a marvel. The lighting also tones in exquisitely with the mood.
Music for movies like this one is like walking on the knife. If the right mood is not exposed in the background score, the movie would sound dour. Debojyoti Mishra has not disappointed. A couple of songs along with the BGM and that captures the entire audience spellbound.
Cast
Ajay Devgan as Manu
Ajay has always been a actor who can perform soft-natured roles to a great accuracy and he has really excelled in this role. His body language is picture perfect for a battered man seeking (rather begging) for monetary assistance but feels ashamed at the same time in doing it. Particularly the scenes where he cries in the bathroom and where he converses with Annu Kapoor are really great. Ajay has enacted all scenes with the ease of a great actor. This movie should go down as one of Ajay’s magnum opus. Wish him more movies like this where he can exhibit all his might.
Aishwarya Rai as Neeru
Aishwarya Rai sans make up is Neeru. She has not acted in this movie but has relived the character. No wonder why this artiste is being famed globally, this movie is yet another landmark in her career. She has these fine expressive eyes that can emit any emotion. One dialogue stands out in her performance.
’’Barish ki din, pathi ghar pe nahi, biwi ke saath candlelight romance karne ka zarorat nahin’’ (Rainy day, husband’s out of town, no need for candlelight romance with the wife). The accent of a typical village educated girl flourishes in this character. She simply stands tall in this film.
Annu Kapoor, Sameer Dharmadhikari, Mauli Ganguly
Sameer and Mauli enact the role of a perfect couple. Sameer as the friend and owner of a private TV channel and Mauli as his homemaker have done excellently, especially Mauli. Annu Kapoor needs no introduction and he has excelled in this movie. At times, he has even outclassed Ajay. Rituparno Gosh has hit the nail on its head in his casting.
A final word
A classical art that has to be relished, relived and cherished while seeing. Definiitely not for the movie goer seeking thorough entertainment.
Every man/woman would have had a first love and its unforgettable. At any point of time, in whatever state we are currently, if we get to see our first love in a state of suffering, we would offer the help we can, if we had loved him/her sincerely.